Glasgow: Emily Campbell secures weightlifting gold, discusses future plans

By Amelia Stockwell — 31 July 2026 — 3 min read

Emily Campbell, representing England, has secured her third Commonwealth Games medal, winning gold in the Women’s +86kg weightlifting category at the SEC Armadillo. This victory marks her second gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, following a bronze at Gold Coast 2018 and a gold at Birmingham 2022. Her performance captivated the audience, with many becoming instant enthusiasts of the sport.

Campbell achieved a combined score of 278kg, lifting 115kg in the snatch and 163kg in the clean and jerk. This total placed her 25kg ahead of her closest competitor. During the clean and jerk, she twice paused the clock to increase the weight, ultimately setting a new Commonwealth and Games record of 163kg with her final attempt, which brought the crowd to its feet.

The 32-year-old lifter expressed her appreciation for the enthusiastic support from the fans, stating she could barely hear herself think amidst the cheering. She also revealed plans to appear on Celebrity MasterChef, describing the experience as nerve-racking, even more so than her weightlifting competition. Campbell noted her passion for food and shared that her signature dish is Caribbean.

Future aspirations and reflections

Following her gold medal win, Campbell addressed questions about her potential participation in the LA Games in 2028, where she could aim for a hat-trick of Olympic medals. She candidly spoke about the physical toll of weightlifting, mentioning pain in her knees, shoulders, and back. Campbell indicated that she would need to strategise with her team and consider the practicalities before committing to the 2028 Games, with qualification potentially starting at the end of the year if plans align.

During the event, Canada’s Etta Mae Love, an 18-year-old bronze medallist, spoke about Campbell being an inspiration when she began her weightlifting journey. Campbell reflected on this, describing it as surreal to be sharing the stage with athletes she has inspired, noting that she never set out to be a role model but aimed to pursue her passion with grace.

In other weightlifting events, Taniela Tuisuva Rainibogi of Fiji secured gold in the Men’s 110kg category, marking Fiji’s first medal of Glasgow 2026. Rainibogi led after lifting 170kg in the snatch and later achieved a new Games record of 208kg in the clean and jerk. England’s Cyrille Tchatchet II challenged for the lead, lifting 204kg in the clean and jerk.

Other weightlifting results

The competition also saw David Liti win gold in the +110kg category, surpassing India’s Lovepreet Singh with a Games record lift of 223kg. England’s Andrew Griffiths earned a bronze medal in the same event. Siti Aqilah Farhana Draman of Malaysia, aged 20, took silver in the Women’s +86kg, contributing to Malaysia’s leading position on the weightlifting medal table at Glasgow 2026.

Campbell’s first lift in the clean and jerk secured her the gold medal, a fact she realised after her second attempt. She described her performance as nearly technically perfect, despite not having lifted such heavy weights in a considerable period.

The weightlifting events at the SEC Armadillo concluded on Thursday.

Source: theguardian.com